Nearly Slash-free Review of Lies for the Liars
The Used's new album The Lies for the Liars is not what I was expecting. I knew it would be angrier, but I wasn't prepared for their sound to be so different. However, different doesn't mean bad. I think that this album, overall, is a huge success. I love it.
I react differently to new albums from different bands, and perhaps because I haven't been a fan of The Used as long as I have been a fan of other bands, or perhaps it's just that I was such a big fan of other bands, but my reaction those bands new albums was slow. My reaction to Lies for the Liars was good and immediate. The first time I listened to In Love And Death, The Used last album, I wasn't very impressed. It took a while for the new laid back sound to grow on me, but now I love those songs.
When I first heard the new Evanescence album, The Open Door, I was so nervous. I was worried I wouldn't like it. After the first listen, I still wasn't sure what I thought because it wasn't the songs I was used to. It just took me a little while to get used to hearing the new material, and now I love it. Even worse, the first time I heard My Chemical Romance's new concept album, The Black Parade, I was horrified. That's right, I hated it. I couldn't deal with the new sound. It just wasn't what I was used to, and I refused to accept anything different. Obviously, that didn't last. Now, The Sharpest Lives, from The Black Parade, is my #1 most played song on iTunes. Snow White Queen, from The Open Door, is #5.
Perhaps it was these experiences that allowed me to be more accepting of a different sound, or perhaps it was just the fact that The Bird and The Worm, the first new song I heard, kicked so much ass. When I finally got my hands on the new album I couldn't wait to listen to it. The first song, The Ripper, was one I had not heard. It simply rocked. It was a great start, and I was hyped. The next two songs are Pretty Handsome Awkward and The Bird and The Worm, both of which I had heard and loved. In fact, I have both as ringtones on my cell phone. The first three songs had me unable to sit still while listening to them. They were just such high energy songs!
After the fourth song, Earthquake, I wasn't so sure anymore. It took things down a notch, and at first listen I wasn't too impressed. Now, it's grown on me, and it continues to do so. The next song, Hospital, restored my hope in the album. It sped things back up, and while still not as high energy as the first three, it's a damn good song. After that is Paralyzed. I had heard the music to this before, but never the words. It's so catchy you will have it stuck in your head long after you listen to it. It's another that isn't as high energy as the first three, but it's a great song. I don't mean that the first three were the best because the were high energy, I love me a slow song, but this is going off my very first impression. This song also happens to be a great Harry/Draco song, which automatically makes it ok with me.
With Me Tonight, the seventh song, made me cringe the first couple of times I heard it. It took me a while to get used to vocals. They just didn't (and still sort of don't) seem to fit with the music. Also, it's a little too preppy for me. It's sort of the Lunacy Fringe of the new album. That was a song off the old album that I don't hate, but I always skip over when I'm listening to the CD. This will probably be the same way. It's every so slightly annoying. This is really mean, but it sounds like it could be a Fall Out Boy song. That's harsh, I know, but I'm really not a fan of this song.
Wake the Dead is next, and it got me moving again. I was glad for it after With Me Tonight. It's another high energy song, but it still isn't as hard as the start of the album. The one thing that I love most about this song is that he actually screams! I was so happy to hear a Bert-scream! I was having withdrawals after the first half of the album. There may be one here and there, but it wasn't enough to really count. The next song is Find A Way, which I keep forgetting about. It was a little weird when I first heard it, and it's really slow. I think I was actually distracted during this song. I still forget it's there until I see it. It's just not one that stands out. Now, that doesn't mean it's a bad song. In fact, I rather like it. It's chill on the scale of On My Own. Granted, it's definitely not as good as On My Own. It's good, but as of now it remains forgettable.
Next is Liar, Liar (Burn in Hell). Ok, now I had heard this in concert and was a little put off already. I tried to give it a chance when I listened to it on the album, but no. Just no. It's really high energy, and I could rock out to it, if it weren't for the vocals. They just really grate at me. The beginning shows real potential, but then it just got annoying. He actually sings, "Liar, liar pants on fire." Really. It's just a very whiny, immature song, and at the end I actually just want to hit Bert. He does makes a really whiny voice, and it's the sort of thing that makes me want to throw children out of windows when they do it. It's incredibly obnoxious. When I do listen to the song, I can be ok until that. Then I just have to hit next. Knowing the band, I'm sure it was meant to be obnoxious, but still, ouch. You got your point across, now I'm not going to listen to it again.
The last song on the regular album is Smother Me. I came into this song being disappointed over Liar, Liar (Burn in Hell). Also, I was hoping for a really kick ass song to end the album on, like I'm A Fake from In Love And Death. I was greatly disappointed. Now, there is nothing wrong with this song, it's good, but it's placement on the CD is no good. It leaves you feeling let down despite all the good songs. Ending on this song almost made me lower my entire opinion of the album, but after going through and listening to it several more times, I remember how awesome the rest of it was.
After listening to the album many times, these are my favorite songs from the main album:
The Ripper
Pretty Handsome Awkward
The Bird and The Worm
Hospital
Paralyzed
Earthquake
These are in order of appearance except for Earthquake, because I can't get more much more specific about which I like better. I'm too indecisive. These are very likely to change in the future as I continue to listen to the album.
I didn't realize at first, but there is a B-side. I just heard those songs for the first time yesterday. I think I actually like that side better. It's much more like their old sound, and the songs are just really good.
It starts with Dark Days, which I just absolutely love! It's such a great song, the music is good, and the vocals/lyrics are amazing. I felt like I was listening to something off one of the old albums. It's really punky, but so like The Used that I love it. The lyrics are so angsty; I love it. The end of this song really gets to me. I just love it, and I could listen to it over and over.
Devil Beside You comes next, and it's more of their old sound. This is one of those songs that makes me want to roll my windows down on a really sunny day and drive around blasting it and singing at the top of my lungs. I feel like that about a lot of Used songs, but those are mostly on old albums. That doesn't mean I want to blast any others; you should see me rocking out to The Bird and The Worm. It just means that the feeling of this song and the emotion it evokes is fitting for this sort of thing. This song actually really makes me laugh, too. It sounds like it could be this incredibly romantic song that declares everlasting love, but then you listen to what he's saying and it's, "I never want to see your face again." The contrast here at once cracks me up and impresses me.
Pain and Slit Your Own Throat are next, and they both have wonderfully angry lyrics. Pain isn't nearly as emo as it sounds. Both of these songs have the wonderful Bert-screams that I adore. Bert-screams make me smile, and these songs are full of screaming. This goes back to this side of the album sounding much more like their older stuff. I'm sad that none of these made the final cut.
The next song is Tunnel, and it is absolutely beautiful. As far as their acoustic songs go, Tunnel is second only to On My Own. It really gave me chills, and it provoked such strong emotion. It's both sad and hopeful at the same time. This is definitely one of my favorite songs on the entire album.
The last song is My Pesticide. This is a much better end to the album than Smother Me. It's still no I'm A Fake, but it's awesome. It's a good high energy song that I can easily see myself rocking out to in the car. This one is also chock full of screaming. This song is a great way to go out.
My favorites from the B-side are nearly all of them:
Dark Days
Devil Beside You
Pain
Slit Your Own Throat
Tunnel
My Pesticide
Well, nevermind. All of them are my favorites. I really love the B-side. I'm not sure of my favorite songs overall since I just heard some of them for the first time yesterday, but I'm sure that many of these songs would be on that list.
ETA: O.M.G. There is a B-side to The Black Parade. I must have this!
I react differently to new albums from different bands, and perhaps because I haven't been a fan of The Used as long as I have been a fan of other bands, or perhaps it's just that I was such a big fan of other bands, but my reaction those bands new albums was slow. My reaction to Lies for the Liars was good and immediate. The first time I listened to In Love And Death, The Used last album, I wasn't very impressed. It took a while for the new laid back sound to grow on me, but now I love those songs.
When I first heard the new Evanescence album, The Open Door, I was so nervous. I was worried I wouldn't like it. After the first listen, I still wasn't sure what I thought because it wasn't the songs I was used to. It just took me a little while to get used to hearing the new material, and now I love it. Even worse, the first time I heard My Chemical Romance's new concept album, The Black Parade, I was horrified. That's right, I hated it. I couldn't deal with the new sound. It just wasn't what I was used to, and I refused to accept anything different. Obviously, that didn't last. Now, The Sharpest Lives, from The Black Parade, is my #1 most played song on iTunes. Snow White Queen, from The Open Door, is #5.
Perhaps it was these experiences that allowed me to be more accepting of a different sound, or perhaps it was just the fact that The Bird and The Worm, the first new song I heard, kicked so much ass. When I finally got my hands on the new album I couldn't wait to listen to it. The first song, The Ripper, was one I had not heard. It simply rocked. It was a great start, and I was hyped. The next two songs are Pretty Handsome Awkward and The Bird and The Worm, both of which I had heard and loved. In fact, I have both as ringtones on my cell phone. The first three songs had me unable to sit still while listening to them. They were just such high energy songs!
After the fourth song, Earthquake, I wasn't so sure anymore. It took things down a notch, and at first listen I wasn't too impressed. Now, it's grown on me, and it continues to do so. The next song, Hospital, restored my hope in the album. It sped things back up, and while still not as high energy as the first three, it's a damn good song. After that is Paralyzed. I had heard the music to this before, but never the words. It's so catchy you will have it stuck in your head long after you listen to it. It's another that isn't as high energy as the first three, but it's a great song. I don't mean that the first three were the best because the were high energy, I love me a slow song, but this is going off my very first impression. This song also happens to be a great Harry/Draco song, which automatically makes it ok with me.
With Me Tonight, the seventh song, made me cringe the first couple of times I heard it. It took me a while to get used to vocals. They just didn't (and still sort of don't) seem to fit with the music. Also, it's a little too preppy for me. It's sort of the Lunacy Fringe of the new album. That was a song off the old album that I don't hate, but I always skip over when I'm listening to the CD. This will probably be the same way. It's every so slightly annoying. This is really mean, but it sounds like it could be a Fall Out Boy song. That's harsh, I know, but I'm really not a fan of this song.
Wake the Dead is next, and it got me moving again. I was glad for it after With Me Tonight. It's another high energy song, but it still isn't as hard as the start of the album. The one thing that I love most about this song is that he actually screams! I was so happy to hear a Bert-scream! I was having withdrawals after the first half of the album. There may be one here and there, but it wasn't enough to really count. The next song is Find A Way, which I keep forgetting about. It was a little weird when I first heard it, and it's really slow. I think I was actually distracted during this song. I still forget it's there until I see it. It's just not one that stands out. Now, that doesn't mean it's a bad song. In fact, I rather like it. It's chill on the scale of On My Own. Granted, it's definitely not as good as On My Own. It's good, but as of now it remains forgettable.
Next is Liar, Liar (Burn in Hell). Ok, now I had heard this in concert and was a little put off already. I tried to give it a chance when I listened to it on the album, but no. Just no. It's really high energy, and I could rock out to it, if it weren't for the vocals. They just really grate at me. The beginning shows real potential, but then it just got annoying. He actually sings, "Liar, liar pants on fire." Really. It's just a very whiny, immature song, and at the end I actually just want to hit Bert. He does makes a really whiny voice, and it's the sort of thing that makes me want to throw children out of windows when they do it. It's incredibly obnoxious. When I do listen to the song, I can be ok until that. Then I just have to hit next. Knowing the band, I'm sure it was meant to be obnoxious, but still, ouch. You got your point across, now I'm not going to listen to it again.
The last song on the regular album is Smother Me. I came into this song being disappointed over Liar, Liar (Burn in Hell). Also, I was hoping for a really kick ass song to end the album on, like I'm A Fake from In Love And Death. I was greatly disappointed. Now, there is nothing wrong with this song, it's good, but it's placement on the CD is no good. It leaves you feeling let down despite all the good songs. Ending on this song almost made me lower my entire opinion of the album, but after going through and listening to it several more times, I remember how awesome the rest of it was.
After listening to the album many times, these are my favorite songs from the main album:
The Ripper
Pretty Handsome Awkward
The Bird and The Worm
Hospital
Paralyzed
Earthquake
These are in order of appearance except for Earthquake, because I can't get more much more specific about which I like better. I'm too indecisive. These are very likely to change in the future as I continue to listen to the album.
I didn't realize at first, but there is a B-side. I just heard those songs for the first time yesterday. I think I actually like that side better. It's much more like their old sound, and the songs are just really good.
It starts with Dark Days, which I just absolutely love! It's such a great song, the music is good, and the vocals/lyrics are amazing. I felt like I was listening to something off one of the old albums. It's really punky, but so like The Used that I love it. The lyrics are so angsty; I love it. The end of this song really gets to me. I just love it, and I could listen to it over and over.
Devil Beside You comes next, and it's more of their old sound. This is one of those songs that makes me want to roll my windows down on a really sunny day and drive around blasting it and singing at the top of my lungs. I feel like that about a lot of Used songs, but those are mostly on old albums. That doesn't mean I want to blast any others; you should see me rocking out to The Bird and The Worm. It just means that the feeling of this song and the emotion it evokes is fitting for this sort of thing. This song actually really makes me laugh, too. It sounds like it could be this incredibly romantic song that declares everlasting love, but then you listen to what he's saying and it's, "I never want to see your face again." The contrast here at once cracks me up and impresses me.
Pain and Slit Your Own Throat are next, and they both have wonderfully angry lyrics. Pain isn't nearly as emo as it sounds. Both of these songs have the wonderful Bert-screams that I adore. Bert-screams make me smile, and these songs are full of screaming. This goes back to this side of the album sounding much more like their older stuff. I'm sad that none of these made the final cut.
The next song is Tunnel, and it is absolutely beautiful. As far as their acoustic songs go, Tunnel is second only to On My Own. It really gave me chills, and it provoked such strong emotion. It's both sad and hopeful at the same time. This is definitely one of my favorite songs on the entire album.
The last song is My Pesticide. This is a much better end to the album than Smother Me. It's still no I'm A Fake, but it's awesome. It's a good high energy song that I can easily see myself rocking out to in the car. This one is also chock full of screaming. This song is a great way to go out.
My favorites from the B-side are nearly all of them:
Dark Days
Devil Beside You
Pain
Slit Your Own Throat
Tunnel
My Pesticide
Well, nevermind. All of them are my favorites. I really love the B-side. I'm not sure of my favorite songs overall since I just heard some of them for the first time yesterday, but I'm sure that many of these songs would be on that list.
ETA: O.M.G. There is a B-side to The Black Parade. I must have this!